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When the mercury dips below freezing, it can be tough to muster up the motivation to ride. But don’t let low temps, icy conditions, or short daylight hours get in your way! Snowy trail time will up your technical skills, improve your fitness, and let you have a whole lotta fun.

Get fat. Fat bikes are the newest trend in the cycling market, and they look like they’re here to stay. These bikes feature almost 5” wide tires, which spread out the rider’s weight to stay on top of the snow. In areas with heavy snowfall, they make an awesome addition to your cold-weather stable.

Riding a road bike in cold temperatures requires a certain amount of grit, determination, and know-how. These gear tips will give you the knowledge… now, all you need is the willpower!

Don’t Overdress. While it may be tempting to really bundle up for a chilly ride, overdoing it may end up making you colder. If you start the ride so warm and toasty that you start sweating within minutes, your clothes will be damp for the rest of the ride. Start with enough clothing that you’re slightly chilly, and tuck an extra layer in your back pocket if you think temps will drop.

Short days and long nights have arrived, leaving precious few hours of sunlit riding. But that doesn’t mean it’s time to hang up your mountain bike for the winter. If you learn to embrace the evenings, you still have plenty of time to ride singletrack. These tips will help you get started:

1. Choose your light wisely. There are tons of lights on the market today, and picking the right one for your ride can seem overwhelming. For taking on nighttime singletrack, a light with a helmet mount is a great choice

Ah, the rear derailleur – the source of much frustration among novice and experienced cyclists alike. When poorly tuned, it can cause plenty of clicks, skips, and mis-shifts, often at the most critical moments in your ride (grinding uphill, anyone?) But with a little know-how, you can make sure your gear changes are silky smooth and be the envy of all your ghost-shifting friends.

Your derailleur has two methods of adjustment: limit screws and cable tension. Let’s start with Phase 1: the limit screws.

Whether you’re commuting on city streets or racing down mountain passes, your brakes are one of the most important parts of your bicycle. If you can hear a lot of noise when you squeeze your levers, it probably means your braking power is compromised. These simple fixes will hush your ride and help you get back to optimum stopping power.

What It Sounds Like: Sh-sh-sh-sh; A whooshing type noise when you feather the brakes.

The Culprit: That sound you hear is probably due to dirt and grime buildup.

Anyone who’s spent some time commuting by bike knows that a backpack isn’t always ideal for your trip to and from work. Every once in a while, you’ll need to haul something that’s just too big, awkward, or heavy for your pack.

Plus, a backpack can pretty much ruin your chance of showing up with a nicely-pressed shirt. While you could just give up and drive or take the bus, another possibility is investing in a bike bag. That way, you can carry everything you need and your shirt can stay wrinkle-free. Here are 5 of the best bags you can find for your bicycle commute: